Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey was the lone bright spot of the Chargers' Wild-Card round loss to the Houston Texans on Saturday. McConkey was targeted 14 times, making nine catches for 197 yards and a touchdown. The rookie's touchdown was an 86-yard play and the only one the Bolts would score in the game. While McConkey made his nine catches for 197 yards, the entire rest of the Chargers offense made five catches for 45 yards total. It was a rough performance by the LA offense, but McConkey shone through and truly established himself as an every week fantasy starter in his rookie year.
Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey could have an even bigger role than usual in the first round of the playoffs against the Houston Texans. McConkey quickly became the focal point of the LA passing game and thrived there in his rookie season. In the regular season finale, he took a backseat to Quentin Johnston (thigh/illness), but with Johnston questionable and Joshua Palmer (foot) ruled out, McConkey could end up being the only remotely reliable option for quarterback Justin Herbert to throw to. The rookie wide receiver is an unquestioned WR1 option in the Wild Card Round regardless, but he enters the absolute top tier if Johnston is unable to play.
Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey made five more catches to close out the regular season in a Week 18 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. McConkey was targeted eight times, making the five catches for 95 yards. He made a big play with a 47-yard gain and remained a key part of the Chargers passing game. In this one, however, Quentin Johnston (13 catches for 186 yards) was the focal point. The Bolts will take on the Houston Texans on Saturday in the first round of the playoffs.
Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey is off the injury report and good to go for a Week 18 game against the Las Vegas Raiders. McConkey showed up on the report with a toe injury this week, missing practice on Wednesday. He was able to get in a limited session on Thursday and then a full session on Friday before being removed from the injury report heading into the weekend. With Josh Palmer (foot) out, McConkey could see even more targets than usual if the Chargers are going full bore in this game. That will depend on the results of Saturday's Bengals-Steelers game. If the Bengals win, the Chargers will earn the No. 5 seed with a win against the Raiders. If the Steelers win, the Chargers will be locked into the No. 6 seed regardless of the results of their own game. If the Bengals win, McConkey is a high-end WR2 with a clear top-10 ceiling.
According to Daniel Popper of The Athletic, Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey (toe) returned to practice on Thursday. Fantasy managers should keep a close eye on the official injury report later on Thursday to see his status. Nonetheless, it is a positive sign to see him back on the field after sitting out during Wednesday's initial session. Last weekend, the 23-year-old brought in eight of his ten targets for two touchdowns. Over his past six contests, McConkey has seen an average of 8.3 targets per game and has tallied 93.7 yards per game with three scores. If McConkey is able to suit up on Sunday to face the Las Vegas Raiders, he should be viewed as a solid WR2 in PPR formats. If not, then Quentin Johnson should see a significant increase in targets operating as the No.1 wide receiver.
Ladd McConkey, Joshua Palmer Miss Wednesday's Practice
Los Angeles Chargers wide receivers Ladd McConkey (toe) and Joshua Palmer (foot) were both listed as non-participants in the first practice of the week on Wednesday. McConkey is dealing with a new injury, but he seemed fine in the Week 17 beatdown of the New England Patriots, when he had eight catches for 94 yards and two touchdowns. The 23-year-old second-rounder has been a must-start in fantasy all year in his first season in the NFL as quarterback Justin Herbert's favorite target. However, the Chargers could rest him and other key starters on offense in the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday versus the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders. If the Steelers beat the Bengals on Saturday, the Bolts would be locked into the No. 6 seed in the AFC for the playoffs and wouldn't have much incentive to play their starters.
Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey scored twice in a Week 17 blowout win over the New England Patriots. McConkey led the team in targets, catches, and receiving yards in another excellent game by the impressive first-year pass catcher. He was targeted 10 times, making eight catches for 94 yards. His first touchdown was on a six-yard pass in the second quarter and he followed that with a long 40-yard touchdown catch in the third. McConkey is having an excellent rookie season and quickly became the focal point of the Los Angeles passing game.
Ladd McConkey Set Up For A Strong Performance In Week 17
Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey is set up for a strong performance in a Week 17 Saturday game against the New England Patriots. McConkey has been a top-25 fantasy receiver for five straight games (skipping Week 14, where he did not play), and should be right in those same rankings again this week. The Patriots defense has been pretty generous to opposing wide receivers, and McConkey should once again be the focal point of the Chargers offense, especially with injuries in the running game making it likely that the Bolts will need to pass early and often. McConkey has a high floor like usual with an even higher ceiling than most weeks.
Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey led the Chargers in catches again in a Week 16 win, making six catches on six targets for 87 yards. McConkey made some huge catches in this one and got some solid yardage after the catch as well. His long play was a 27-yard gain on his first target of the game. Quarterback Justin Herbert ended up targeting 10 different pass catchers in this game, but McConkey still remained the clear first look on most plays. The Bolts spreading the ball around so much limits McConkey's counting stats, but he's still a solid WR2 with a high floor week in and week out.
Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey is back at full strength for a Week 16 Thursday night game against the Denver Broncos. McConkey missed the game in Week 14 with shoulder and knee injuries, but he was able to return in Week 15 and is off the injury report completely this week. In his Week 15 return, he caught five passes for 58 yards and a touchdown and remained the usual first look for quarterback Justin Herbert. McConkey has a tough matchup against a strong Denver secondary, but he's still in the WR2 conversation because of target share and the potential for the Chargers to once again abandon the running game and go with a pass-heavy approach.
Ladd McConkey
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Chargers
